130 



Hah. On stones and shells from Eddjstone Lighthouse 

 to the Lizard and Land's-end, common. 



This elegant and beautiful species varies in height from 

 one to six inches, and is readily recognized from having no 

 British species like it. It is arborescent and dichotomously 

 branched ; the branches are cylindrical and contracted at 

 their terminations, and two ramifications arise from each 

 joint. The cells are numerous, rhomboidal in shape, plain, 

 quincuncialiy arranged on all parts of the branches. It is 

 rooted by tubular fibres, and the branches are erecto-patent, 

 and from the contracted terminations of the internodes being 

 said to resemble sausages it derives its generic name Far- 

 cimia. A good deal of difference occurs in the size of the 

 polypidoni, and the shape and distribution of the cells, in 

 different specimens. In some now before me, the branches 

 are three fourths of an inch in length and very stout, about 

 a line in transverse diameter ; in others the branches are 

 about one fourth of an inch long and about as stout as an 

 ordinary sewing needle, and some are fusiform and others are 

 club-shaped. The cells also are liable to considerable 

 variations, not only in different specimens, but in diff'erent 

 parts of the same. Thus those cells at the inferior portion 

 of the branches are quadrangular most commonly, while at 

 the upper parts the superior angle is expanded into an arch, 

 and hence resembles the cells oi FLustrafoliacea. It would 

 almost seem as if there were two species confounded under 

 this name; but although they diff'er so much in size I have 

 been unable to discover any specific distinctions between 

 them. The cells can offer no guide in determining this point 

 as Ihey vary so much in the same specimen. This is a very 

 elegant species both as it regards its arborescent form, and 

 the delicately embossed appearance of its branches. 



RETEPORA. Lamark. 

 Generic Character : Coral foliaceous, stony, fragile, netted ; 

 cells opening one way, on the upper or inner side, short 

 and not prominent. Polypes ascidian. 



NETTED CORAL. B. Reticulata. Polypidom latticed, 

 wavy and convolute, the u|>pcr surface warty and porous. 



Millepora retepora, Borlase's Cornwall, p. 240, pi. 24, 

 fig. 8. JNlillepora reticulata, Ellis and Solander's Zooph., 

 p. 138. Retepora reticulata, Fleming's Brit. An., p. 531. 

 Johnston's Brit. Zooph., p. 296. 



Hab. Two leagues south-west of Gillstone, Scilly, Rev, 

 W. Borlasc. 



Of this species, I have been unable to procure a Cornish 

 specimen. Borla&c tuuiid it at Scilly and I have spccimeijs 



